TY - JOUR

T1 - Outdoor performance of organic photovoltaics: Diurnal analysis, dependence on temperature, irradiance, and degradation

AU - Bristow, N.D.

AU - Kettle, J.P.

AU - Bristow, N.

AU - Kettle, J.

PY - 2015/1/29

Y1 - 2015/1/29

N2 - The outdoor dependence of temperature and diurnal irradiance on inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) module performance has been analysed and benchmarked against monocrystalline-silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic technology. This is first such report and it is observed that OPVs exhibit poorer performance under low light conditions, such as overcast days, as a result of inflexion behaviour in the current-voltage curves, which limits the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor. These characteristics can be removed by photo-annealing at higher irradiance levels, which occur diurnally as irradiance increases after sunrise. We also report the first temperature coefficients for OPVs from outdoor data; the OPV modules showed a positive temperature coefficient, which compared to a negative coefficient from the c-Si modules. Overall, the cell degradation outdoors appears very severe for these modules and highlights the need for improved barrier.

AB - The outdoor dependence of temperature and diurnal irradiance on inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) module performance has been analysed and benchmarked against monocrystalline-silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic technology. This is first such report and it is observed that OPVs exhibit poorer performance under low light conditions, such as overcast days, as a result of inflexion behaviour in the current-voltage curves, which limits the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor. These characteristics can be removed by photo-annealing at higher irradiance levels, which occur diurnally as irradiance increases after sunrise. We also report the first temperature coefficients for OPVs from outdoor data; the OPV modules showed a positive temperature coefficient, which compared to a negative coefficient from the c-Si modules. Overall, the cell degradation outdoors appears very severe for these modules and highlights the need for improved barrier.

U2 - 10.1063/1.4906915

DO - 10.1063/1.4906915

M3 - Article

VL - 7

JO - Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy

JF - Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy

SN - 1941-7012

IS - 1

ER -